White House former adviser Jared Kushner addressed his recent meeting with rapper Kanye West on Thursday, telling Fox News that “unlike others, I’m able to keep friendships going.”
“Kanye has been a friend for ten years,” Kushner told host Bret Baier. “He’s a very special person, he’s a very successful music artist, he’s a very successful designer. He’s been a lot of the things he’s done.”
KANYE WEST WITH JARED KUSHNER AND IVANKA TRUMP
The New York Times was the first to report on the unexpected meeting that took place last weekend in Telluride, Colo, because controversy surrounding West’s declared bid for the White House. West has previously met with Kushner and the president to discuss issues of racial justice, and has been a high-profile supporter of Trump. But in July, he announced his presidential bid, and has since submitted paperwork for his name to appear on the ballot in multiple states.
Kushner confirmed that he and his wife Ivanka met Trump with West, but said only that they discussed “ideas” and avoided talks of “his campaign and what he is up to.”
“Unlike others, I am able to maintain friendships throughout.”
Prior to the meeting, West Kushner sent a book on Black economic empowerment, which Kushner said he “found absolutely phenomenal,” and distributed copies across the White House “because I think there’s a lot of inspiration there.” “We can get it for President Trump’s second term agenda.”
“Kanye sent me a book about a month ago called ‘PowerNomics’ … I read the book. It was absolutely phenomenal, it actually captured a lot of the things that President Trump has done,” Kushner explained .
Kushner was asked to address accusations that Republican operatives have helped in a coordinated plan to sneak Black votes away from Joe Biden.
“I read things in the press,” he added, “but I did not discuss it directly with him.”
Kushner’s appearance on Fox News came hours after President Trump announced what he called a “historic peace deal” between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
TRUMP ANNOUNCES HISTORICAL PEACE ACTRATOR COUNT ISRAEL, UAE
Kushner, who helped secure the agreement works alongside White House Special Representative for International Negotiations Avi Berkowitz and a small team, praised the president for setting the stage in the Middle East to mark this historic breakthrough. realization ”, and predicted“ many great things ”in the years before.
“We have a lot of interest from a lot of countries,” Kushner said. “People are often afraid to go first. I think a lot of countries are looking to see what this looks like. So far it has been very positive …”
The so-called “Abraham Accord” serves to rebuild the confidence in the Middle East that was lost under the Obama administration, Kushner said.
“Both parties had felt their feelings about their relationship with America, they felt betrayed to Iran. [Nuclear] Deal that sent $ 150 billion to Iran … but President Trump has rebuilt that trust, brought it closer together, and agreed on a common vision that could be good. “
NETANYAHU HAILS ISRAEL, UAE PEACE DEAL AS ‘GREATEST ADVANCE TOWARD PEACE’
The deal between the two Middle Eastern countries was largely brokered by President Trump and is expected to lead to a “complete normalization” of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Under the agreement, Israel agreed to the application of sovereignty over West Bank territories that it had discussed annexing.
“[Israeli] Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu did the math and saw that this was much more in the interest of Israel in the short, medium and long term, “Kushner said,” and that is what great leaders are doing. They place the policy and they make the decision that strengthens their countries and keeps their people safe. “
Fox News’ Brooke Singman and Tyler Olsen contributed to this report.
